South African Terrestrials Via Cardboard Method

[Subrosa]

A couple dormant tubers produced from seed sown via the cardboard method last fall. These are winter growing/summer dormant species. First is Habenaria caffra, second is Satyrium stenopetalum.

[Louis_W]

Cool! Can I ask though, what is the cardboard method? I'm sure I could google it but if you don't mind explaining that would be much appreciated

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Louis_W

Cool! Can I ask though, what is the cardboard method? I'm sure I could google it but if you don't mind explaining that would be much appreciated

No problem. Put simply, it's a way of replicating how orchids germinate in the wild. By using wet cardboard as a source of cellulose, you provide food for fungi which enable orchid seeds to germinate and get through their early development stage. The cardboard is incorporated into a substrate suitable for the species you're trying to grow, seed is sown, and then suitable conditions for the species sown are provided. For example, when I do this with species native to my zone 6B climate I sow in the fall then leave the containers outside until really cold weather hits to provide cold stratification, then I bring them into a cool basement under lights to simulate spring.

[Dorchid]

Very cool!

[dnatural1]

Louis_W, The cardboard method may have originated in Japan and I am seeing references to it in quite a few orchid forums - including this one. Just search in this forum for :Cardboard Method" and you'll get many hits. There is even a Facebook group called "Cardboard Orchids Sowing Group". It's a private group and I just applied to join as I'd like to know more about this method.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by dnatural1

Louis_W, The cardboard method may have originated in Japan and I am seeing references to it in quite a few orchid forums - including this one. Just search in this forum for :Cardboard Method" and you'll get many hits. There is even a Facebook group called "Cardboard Orchids Sowing Group". It's a private group and I just applied to join as I'd like to know more about this method.

I'm a member of the FB group.

[dnatural1]

I've just become a member of the "Cardboard Orchids Sowing Group" on Facebook. Haven't had a chance to dig deep into it but it seems well organised. There is an introductory article on the Cardboard Method which introduces all the key ideas of the method - some history, what it involves, advantages, disadvantages and how-to information . Also all the threads are grouped by topic (just like in this forum).

[estación seca]

So - for those who don't use Facebook, it's not that easy to find information about growing terrestrial orchid seed on cardboard by searching.

Subrosa has provided a brief description above. Another is in this thread:
Cardboard germination of Calopogon tuberosus

There aren't any more detailed descriptions I've found here on Orchid Board.

In another forum OB member naoki mentions a book about growing Japanese orchids this way, but it is in Japanese.

The most detailed discussion I found is in the Scottish Rock Garden Garden Club Forum. The medium used is quite complex, and I suspect that isn't necessary.

Here and there you can find photos of people's cardboard setups without much explanation.

Some people describe shredding the cardboard, soaking in pure water for days to a couple of weeks, then mixing it with the rest of the medium. Other people stand wet cardboard pieces vertically, separated by thin vertical layers of soil mixture. The seeds are sprinkled over the whole thing. Then it's dampened with rain water, enclosed to keep humidity high, and put in a cool dark place (temperature appropriate to the plant) for days to a couple of weeks.

I haven't done it yet, but I figured I'd share what I found.